The Senate gave passage yesterday to Senate Bill S.3871, sponsored by Senator Andrew Lanza, which would prohibit New York State, or its local governments, from funding any civilian trials of enemy combatants for acts of terrorism in federal courts located in New York.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Three Staten Island companies will be the beneficiaries of reduced power costs under a new Cuomo administration program aimed at lowering the price of doing business and retaining jobs in the Empire State.

Pratt Industries, the New York Container Terminal and Staten Island University Hospital were tapped after input from local lawmakers and an application process established to apportion state financial incentives and resources to spur economic development under the ReCharge New York program.

Statewide, 517 businesses and not-for-profits were awarded lower-cost power allocations.

The New York State Senate recently passed a bill to help prevent the theft of pets by increasing the penalties for committing the crime. The bill, (S.946), would make stealing a licensed dog or cat a felony and takes into account the monetary and emotional value of a pet.

Thank you for your wonderful contribution to the New York State Senate’s Earth Day Poster Contest. This year we received many outstanding posters that exemplify the creativity of the young people in the 24th Senatorial District.

Each entry from my District displayed tremendous originality and vision as well as obvious concern for the ecological future of our communities and our state. I am proud of your work and that of your classmates, and encourage you to continue to study and learn more about the serious challenges that face our environment.

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the 2012 Earth Day Poster Contest from my District is:

Senator Lanza urges all New Yorkers to take extra caution in the coming weeks, as dry weather conditions have increased the likelihood of wildfires across the State. As a result of lower amounts of snow this winter and the lack of substantial rain this spring, the wildfire danger across New York is much higher than usual. Current weather forecasts predict higher-than-average temperatures and substantial winds, elevating the risk to a very high danger.

In last year’s state budget Senator Andrew Lanza helped to secure funding for a Mobile Legal Help Center which will which will be available to Staten Islanders on Monday, April 23rd from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at his office located at 3845 Richmond Avenue.

Beginning April 13-16, for two consecutive weekends, Staten Island Railway (SIR) plans to shut down service at the St. George Terminal so that vital drainage work can be completed in the St. George Tunnel. Alternate free shuttle bus service will be provided to accommodate Staten Island Railway customers.

Beginning Sunday, April 1, 2012 shoppers will no longer pay state sales tax on clothing and footwear purchases up to $110! This new tax cut, which is in effect year-round, will help put money back into the pockets of hard-working families. All clothing and footwear sold for less than $110 per item (or per pair of footwear) will be exempt from the New York State 4 percent sales tax, saving the average family $200 a year. Additionally, most fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks, zippers and similar items that are used to make or repair exempt clothing will also be eligible for the exemption. In this economy, where many family budgets are stretched to the breaking point, every dollar counts. Below you will find additional information about this exemption.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- At the start of the school year, the fight for yellow bus service might have seemed hopeless.

On the first day of class in September -- two years after a variance allowing bus service for seventh- and eighth-graders was yanked, three months after a seventh-grader was killed walking to a city bus, and two months after a lawsuit to restore service was tossed out of court -- schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott told reporters at Susan Wagner High School it wasn't going to happen.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After a three-year legal battle, the city will be re-instating yellow bus service for seventh- and eighth-grade students on Staten Island, Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott announced today.

Walcott was joined by a host of borough officials as he made the announcement during an afternoon press conference at Laurie Intermediate School in New Springville.

Students who were eligible for the bus service prior to the city's decision to yank it will be eligible once again.

Walcott cited the city's newly-granted exemption from the "like circumstances" clause of the State Education Law as the city's reason for providing the service again.